What Sadie
Found
Week 20
Tip #1: ‘Being’ is almost always
wrong.
False : True = 4.7 : 1.0
Likelihood Ratios
That ratio on the previous page means that if
‘being’ is in an answer, it almost 5x more likely
to be wrong than if ‘being’ was not in the
answer. False:True = 4.7: 1.0.
Q #1
With so many available, an advisor should take
time to help his or her students choose the
courses that are best suited to them.
A.) With so many available
B.) Being that there are so many available
C.) So many courses being available
D.) With there being so many courses available
E.) Because there are so many courses available
Q #1 Answer
With so many available, an advisor should take
time to help his or her students choose the
courses that are best suited to them.
E.) Because there are so many courses available
Q #2
Most scientists acknowledge controlled studies to
be most effective for examining psychological
hypotheses, but recognize that many such
experiments are unethical to conduct on human
subjects.
A.) controlled studies to be most effective for
B.) that controlled studies being most effective as
C.) controlled studies being most effective to
D.) that controlled studies are most effective for
E.) where controlled studies are most effective for
Q #2 Answer
Most scientists acknowledge controlled studies
to be most effective for examining psychological
hypotheses, but recognize that many such
experiments are unethical to conduct on human
subjects.
D.) that controlled studies are most effective for
Q #3
Although he was not elected as the captain,
Omar has become the team leader, him being
the most vocal and respected player on the
team.
A.) has become the team leader, him being
B.) is being the team leader because of his being
C.) is the team leader for being
D.) has become the team leader because he is
E.) has become the team leader for having been
Q #3 Answer
Although he was not elected as the captain,
Omar has become the team leader, him being
the most vocal and respected player on the
team.
D.) has become the team leader because he is
Question Set #2
Tip #2: ‘But also’ tends to be
right.
If ‘Not only’ in question and ‘but also’
in answer, then:
True : False = 3.0 : 1.0
Q #1
They not only spoke enthusiastically about the new
fertilizer but also praised the farmers who tried it.
A.) They not only spoke enthusiastically about the new
fertilizer but also praised
B.) They spoke both enthusiastically about the new
fertilizer, but they also praised
C.) They not only spoke enthusiastically about the new
fertilizer but also to praise
D.) They not only spoke enthusiastically about the new
fertilizer but also praising
E.) They spoke enthusiastically not only about new
fertilizer but also praising
Q #2
Winsor McCay, widely regarded as one of America’s
greatest graphic artists, not only created one of the
most popular Sunday comic strips of the early 20th
century, and produced one of the first animated
cartoons.
A.) and produced
B.) and produced
C.) but also producing
D.) as well as producing
E.) producing
Q #3
The film not only employs fine actors,
nevertheless it also gives them outstanding roles
to play as well.
A.) nevertheless it also gives them outstanding roles
to play as well
B.) for it gives them also outstanding roles to play
C.) but outstanding roles as well
D.) but also the actors’ roles are outstanding
E.) nevertheless it also gives them outstanding roles
to play as well
Question Set #3
Tip #3: The longest option is
usually wrong.
If option has most words, then:
False : True = 2.1 : 1.0
Q #1
At five years old, my father took me to get a
haircut for the very first time.
A.) At five years old, my father took me to get a
haircut for the very first time
C.) My father took me at five years old to get a
haircut for the very first time
D.) At five years old, my father took me to get my
first haircut
E.) When I was five, my father took me for my first
haircut
Q #2
The film not only employs fine actors,
nevertheless it also gives them outstanding roles
to play as well.
A.) nevertheless it also gives them outstanding roles
to play as well
B.) for it gives them also outstanding roles to play
C.) but also gives them outstanding roles to play
D.) but also the actors’ roles are outstanding
E.) but outstanding roles as well
Q #3
Professor Angleton valued conciseness highly,
telling his students to edit their papers
thoroughly for eliminating any extra superfluous
information in the text.
A.) for eliminating any extra superfluous
B.) having eliminated any superfluous
D.) in eliminating any superfluous
E.) and eliminate any superfluous
Question Set #4
Tip #4: Be careful with
semicolons.
If option has a semicolon, then:
False : True = 2.0 : 1.0
Q #1
Dede and Michelle were among the players chosen
for the all-county field hockey team, their
performance in this having been exceptional.
A.) team, their performance in this having been
exceptional
B.) team; their performance having been exceptional
C.) team, for they have performed exceptionally in this
D.) team, their performance in this having been
exceptional
E.) team, for their performance has been exceptional
Q #2
The discovery was made by a team of scientists trying to
locate a gene responsible for producing a particular
enzyme, but they found instead a set of genetic triggers
for a predisposition to heart disease.
A.) scientists trying to locate a gene responsible for
producing a particular enzyme, but they found instead
B.) scientists that tried to locate a gene responsible for
producing a particular enzyme, instead finding
C.) scientists who, trying to locate a gene responsible for
producing a particular enzyme, instead found
D.) scientists who instead; in trying to find a gene responsible
for producing a particular enzyme, found
E.) scientists trying to locate a gene responsible for producing
a particular enzyme, but they found instead
Q #3
Einstein formulated nearly all of his most influential
theories in the course of a single year, 1905, which
have had a profound effect on the whole world of
physics, from consumer electronics to quantum
theory and space travel.
A.) 1905, which have had
B.) 1905, however, these have had
C.) 1905; having
D.) 1905, which have had
E.) 1905, and these theories have had
Question Set #5
Tip #5: ‘Nor’ is a good sign.
If question has ‘neither’ and option
has ‘nor’, then:
True : False = 2.1 : 1.0
Q #1
By the time the movie had finished, neither Eric nor his
daughters was able to stay awake because of the boredom
caused by the film’s inferior plot.
A.) neither Eric nor his daughters was able to stay awake because
of the boredom caused by the film’s inferior plot
B.) staying awake was an impossibility for Eric and his daughters
because of the boredom caused by the inferiority of the plot
C.) neither Eric nor his daughters were able to stay awake because
of the boredom caused by the film’s inferior plot
D.) Eric and his daughters was unable to stay awake because of the
boredom caused by the film’s inferior plot
E.) the film’ s inferior plot had made it impossible for neither Eric
nor his daughters to stay awake
Q #2
Neither the strength of the army nor how agile
they were was able to compensate for the
superior strategy of its enemy.
A.) nor how agile they were
B.) nor their agility
C.) nor its agility
D.) or how agile it was
E.) or its agility
Q #3
In the most recent election, voters were neither
energized about the importance of the campaign and
they lacked awareness of the issues that directed it.
A.) about the importance of the campaign and they lacked
awareness of the issues
B.) to how important the campaign was nor to their lack of
awareness of the issues
C.) about how important the campaign was nor about their
awareness of the issues
D.) on the importance of the campaign nor the awareness of
the issues
E.) about the importance of the campaign nor aware of the
issues
Question Set #6
Tip #6: Fewest words a good
sign.
If option has the fewest words:
True : False = 1.6 : 1.0
Q #1
The statute recently passed gives the chief of
police sole authority to determine about which
duties qualify for overtime pay.
A.) about which duties qualify for overtime pay
B.) for those duties that qualify for overtime pay
C.) regarding the qualifications of duties for
overtime pay
D.) about which duties qualify for overtime pay
E.) whether overtime pay qualifies for certain duties
or not
Q #3
The cost of crude oil is influenced dramatically
not only by supply but also by what the current
geopolitical events are like.
A.) by what the current geopolitical events are like
B.) because current geopolitical events influence it
C.) by current geopolitical events
D.) by what the current geopolitical events are like
E.) because of current geopolitical events
Tip #7: Misplaced modifier, NOUN
If underlined portion ends with a
comma, and options begins with a
noun:
True : False = 1.4 : 1.0
• Having no food in her backpack, Maria had to
scavenge.
• Having no food in her backpack, it was
necessary for Maria to hunt wild elk.
Tip #8: ‘Is’ is a bad sign.
If ‘is’ in option:
False : True = 1.3 : 1.0